Lock mortise adapter



Jan. 19, 1960 Filed May 6, 1958 E. L. SCHLAGE 2,921,461

LOCK MORTISE ADAPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ERNEST L. SCHLAGE v ZZQMQLM" A 7' TORWEVS Jan. 19, 1960 E. L. SCHLAGE LOCK MORTISE ADAPTER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 6, 1958 INVENTOR. ERNEST L. SCHLAGE ATTORNEYS Jan. 19, 1960 E. L. SCHLAGE 2,921,461

FIG; 7

34 j a H 39 Q "36 INVENTOR.

ERNEST L. SCHLAGE g mym ATTORNEYS- LUCK MQRTISE ADAPTER Ernest L. Schlage, iiurlingame, Calili, assignor to Schlage Lock Company, a corporation Application May 6, 1958, Serial No. 733,396

4 illaims. (Cl. 70-451) mortise locks have required that a relatively large rec-- tangular mortise be cut out of the door in order to accommodate the large rectangular mortise lock housing. In contrast, a modern, cylindrical lockset or latchset requires only that a relatively small hole be drilled in the edge of the door for reception of the latch unit and a somewhat larger hole be drilled through the faceof the door for reception of the cylindrical lock housing.

In installing a cylindrical lock, especially the latch unit thereof, in a door which had previously been fitted with a mortise lock, it has been found that the mortise was so large that no proper support for the latch unit was afforded. The mortise may, of course, be filled with a block of wood or the like and the then solid door may be prepared in the usual manner for reception of a cylindrical lockset. This practice, however, is both timeconsuming and expensive and is generally impractical.

This invention contemplates the use of an adapter or relocking unit, which may be rapidly and easily installed in a door having a relatively large edge mortise to provide sufiicient support for a modern, cylindrical lockset.

It is therefore a main object of this invention to provide a device for use in converting a door from an oldfashioned mortise type lock to a modern cylindrical lockset or latchset.

Another object of this invention is the provision of an adapter providing adequate support for a modern latch unit in a door having a relatively large, rectangular edge mortise.

It is still another object of this invention to provide an adapter unit for modifying a door, previously cut out to receive a mortise type lock, for use with a cylindrical lockset, and which adapter provides a finished appearance to the door.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is an exploded, perspective View showing the main parts of the adapter of this invention in spaced relation to a modern latch unit;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the back side of the mounting plate of the adapter of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the edge of a door showing the removal of a rectangular or mortise type lock therefrom;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the edge of the door of Fig. 3 showing the modifications necessary to install the adapter of this invention and a cylindrical lockset;

Fig. is a perspective view similar to Figs. 3 and 4 showing the adapter of this invention and a cylindrical lockset installed in the door;

States Patent 2,921,461 Patented Jan. 19, 1960 Kit? Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken through the edge of the door of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the door frame, in which the door of Fig. 3 is swung, showing the removal of the strike plate associated with the mortise type lock; and,

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the door frame of Fig. 7 showing the installation of a modernized strike plate for use with the cylindrical lockset of Fig. 5.

In detail, the adapter of this invention comprises, generally, a mounting plate 1 (Fig. l) and a face plate 2 for use in modernizing a door 3 (Fig. 3) which has been provided with a relatively large rectangular edge mortise 4. It is noted in Fig. 3 that mortise 4 is relatively deep as well as having a considerable vertical extent for receiving an old fashioned, rectangular or mortise lock 5. Lock 5 is conventionally provided with a relatively large rectangular housing 6 having an elongated face plate 7 at one end thereof. The door 3 for housing such lock 5 is therefore conventionally provided with a second, relatively shallow mortise 8 extending outwardly from the first mortise 4 for receiving the face plate 7. A relatively small hole 9 is also normally provided through the face of the door 3 for receiving the conventional spindle as sociated with the mortise lock 5.

A cylindrical lockset or latchset of modern design, on the other hand, may comprise a main, or spindle housing unit 10 (Fig. 5) and an interengaging latch unit, generally designated 11. Housing 10 is normally mounted in the door by inserting it through a hole 12 (Fig. 4) bored through the opposed faces of the door. Fig. 4 shows a pair of holes 12 drilled into the body of the deep mortise 4 for receiving the cylindrical lock housing 10 in modernizing the door 3.

Latch unit 11 of the cylindrical lockset includes a tubular barrel 13 and a front plate 14 at one end thereof through which the bolt 15 projects (Fig. 1). In a new door, a hole of sufficient size to receive barrel 13 is normally drilled through the edge of the door to communicate with the main housing hole 12, and the front plate 14 is conventionally received in a relatively small mortise prepared in the edge of the door for this purpose. The hole in a new door which receives barrel 13 thereby provides vertical and lateral support for said barrel, and the front plate 14 is adapted to be secured to the new door by screws inserted through holes 16 provided in said front plate.

In modernizing a door with mortises 4 and 8 (Fig. 3) it will be understood that that portion of the door which would ordinarily support latch unit 11 has been removed in forming said mortises. The vertical extent of front plate 14 of latch unit 11 is substantially shorter than the vertical extent of mortise 4 thereby eliminating both support for the barrel 13 as well as any provision for securing front plate 14 to the door with screws as previously described.

Therefore, in order to provide sufiicient support for latch unit 11 this invention contemplates the use of an adapter including mounting plate 1. Said mounting plate is elongated (Fig. 1) to a considerably greater extent than front plate 14 of the latch unit so as to be comparable in size to the preformed edge mortise 8 in the door to be modified. Mounting plate 1 is preferably of a width, length, and thickness sufiicient to be received in edge mortise 8 flush with edge of door 3. Since mounting plate 1 is preferably formed to a size to replace the largest mortise lock face plate 7, in cases in which a smaller mortise lock is being replaced it may be necessary to expand mortise 8 slightly to receive said mounting plate.

The front surface 17 of mounting plate 1, which is adapted to be supported in a position generally coplanar with the edge of the door, is provided with a central rectangular recess 18 of such dimensions as to receive front plate 14 of the latch unit therein with the front surface of said front plate generally flush or coplanar with front surface 17 of plate 1. As seen in Fig. .1 recess 18 may open outwardly of the edges of mounting plate 1 in the event the width of said mounting plate is substantially the same as the width of front plate 14.

. Projecting from the back side of mounting plate 1 and integral therewith is a tubular supporting element or sleeve 19 (Fig. 2) which is open at both ends and provides a through bore 20 communicating with the bottom of recess 18. The axis of bore 20 is generally normal to the front surface 17 of mounting plate 1 and said bore is centrally located with respectto recess 18 to receive barrel 13 of the latch unit when front plate 14 is received in recess 18. The length of sleeve 19 and bore 20 is approximately half the length of barrel 13 so as to provide adequate vertical and lateral support for said barrel. The diameter of bore 2%) should be just slightly larger than barrel 13 so that said barrel will fit snugly but easily through said bore.

In order to secure latch unit 11 in mounting plate 1 with barrel 13 received in bore 20 of sleeve 19 and front plate 14 received in recess 18, a pair of internally threaded bosses 23 (Fig. 2) are formed projecting from the back side of mounting plate 1. Preferably, bosses 23 may be integrally cast with mounting plate 1 and the threaded bores of said bosses open outwardly into the bottom of recess 18 to receive screws 24 (Fig. 1) extending through holes 16 in front plate 14. This, of course, places bosses 23 on opposite sides of sleeve 19 (Fig. 2), and said bosses may be joined to said sleeve by an integrally cast flange 25.

Flange 25 may, in addition, project oppositely outwardly from bosses 23 to provide a stiffening or reinforcing member projecting from the back side of mounting plate 1. Since the rectangular mortise 4 which is to receive the central portion of mounting plate 1 is relatively deep, it will readily receive flange 25, bosses 23, and sleeve 19 without the necessity of any substantial alteration of said mortise. The combination of mounting plate 1, sleeve 19, bosses 23, and flange 25 may be preferably cast in a solid integral piece.

It will be noted that in mounting latch unit 11 in plate 1, the edges defining recess 18 and front plate 14 are clearly apparent. In addition, in securing mounting plate 1 in mortise 8, the outline of said mortise is displayed and must be carefully tailored to the mounting plate if it is to provide a desirable appearance. Since both of these factors may contribute to an unfinished or undesirable appearance in the modified door, this invention contemplates covering the front surface 17 of mounting plate 1 and the front plate 14 of latch unit 11 with the face plate, generally designated 2 (Figs. 1,

Face plate 2 is preferably of relatively thin sheet metal, such as brass, having slightly larger outline dimensions than the front surface 17 of mounting plate 1. Face plate 2 is provided with a central opening 26 through which latch bolt 15 is adapted to project when said face plate is secured in overlying relationship to mounting plate 1 and front plate 14. In such overlying position the outer marginal portions of face plate 2 extend outwardly of the edges of mounting plate 1 and thereby cover the line of demarcation between the edge of said mounting plate and the shallow mortise 8.

' Face plate 2 is further provided with a pair of screw holes 27 aligned with holes 16 and the threaded bores of bosses 23 so that screws 24 may be received through holes 27 and 16 and into bosses 23 to secure face plate 2, front plate 14 and mounting plate 1 together as a unit.

Additional aligned screw holes 28, 29 are respectively provided through the ends of face plate 2 and mounting plate 1 to receive wood screws '30 adapted to extend into the door edge. Screws 30 thereby serve to adequately secure face plate 2 to mounting plate 1 and to secure the combined unit to the edge of the door.

It will be noted in Fig. 5 that face plate 2 presents a finished, unbroken appearance, covering not only the lines of demarcation between front plate 14 and mounting plate 1, but also the outline of mortise 8. Latch unit 11 is securely held in place by screws 24 and adequately supported by mounting plate 1 and sleeve 19 and the adapter unit is securely mounted in the edge of the door with mounting plate 1 received in the mortises 8 and 4. Since the main housing 10 is formed with elements interengaging with latch unit 11 (Fig. 6) support is also thereby provided for housing 10 by the means described.

In modernizing a door as described, it is also usually necessary to modify the door frame 31 (Fig. 7) by replacing the antiquated strike plate 32 which accompanied the oid fashioned lock For this purpose a modern strike plate 33 (Fig. 8) is provided, having a single central aperture 34 for receiving the bolt 15 of the modern, cylindrical lock. Preferably, the outline dimensions of the modernized strike plate 33 are slightly larger than the antiquated strike plate 32 to completely fill the mortise 35 formed in the door frame 31 to receive strike 32. In most cases, it is preferable to enlarge mortise 35 slightly to receive the new strike 33. Strike 33 is secured in the mortise and frame 31 by screws, in the usual manner, and said strike plate is formed with the conventional camming ramp 36.

Strike plate 33 is also provided with an inwardly extending tab 37 along the edge 39 of opening 34 that is intended to be engaged by the flat side of latchbolt 15. This tab is bendable along various lines so as to position the edge 39 the proper distance from the door stop 40 corresponding to the position of latchbolt 15. Cut out portions 33 are provided on opposite sides of tab 37 to reduce the resistance to bending said tab to the desired position.

It will be understood that throughout the description and claims the term latch unit is intended to include a. similarly shaped tubular lock, which incorporates the retractor in its barrel, as well as the cylindrical lockset latch. unit previously described.

Although the invention has been described and illustrated in detail, such is not to be taken as restrictive thereof since modifications which occur to one skilled in the art are intended to be within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An adapter for use in mounting a latch unit having a tubular barrel with a front plate in a door having a rectangular edge mortise, said adapter comprising: an elongated mounting plate adapted to be secured in overlying relation to said mortise with the front face of said mounting plate flush with the edge of said door, said mounting plate having a central recess in said front face for receiving said front plate therein flush with said front face, an open-ended tubular sleeve member projecting from the back side of said mounting plate and opening into said recess centrally thereof for receiving and supporting said barrel, and means for securing said front plate to said mounting plate, said means including internally threaded bosses projecting from said back side of said mounting plate on opposite sides of said sleeve member and opening into said recess for threadedly receiving screws extending through said front plate.

2. An adapter for use in mounting a latch unit having a tubular barrel with a front plate in a door having a rectangular edge mortise, said adapter comprising: an elongated mounting plate adapted to be secured in overlying relation to said mortise with the front face of said mounting plate flush with the edge of said door, said mounting plate having a central recess in said front face for receiving said front plate therein flush with said front face, an open-ended tubular sleeve member projecting from the back side of said mounting plate and opening into said recess centrally thereof for receiving and supporting said barrel, means for securing said front plate to said mounting plate including internally threaded bosses projecting from said back side of said mounting plate on opposite sides of said sleeve member and opening into said recess for threadedly receiving screws extending through said front plate, and a longitudinally extending reinforcing flange projecting from said back side of said mounting plate and integrally connecting said mounting plate, said sleeve member, and said bosses.

3. An adapter for facilitating mounting a latch unit in a door having in the edge thereof a first, relatively deep rectangular mortise and a second, relatively shallow mortise, extending outwardly from said first mortise, wherein said latch unit includes a tubular barrel having a front plate on one end, said adapter comprising: an elongated mounting plate adapted to be secured in said second mortise with its front surface generally coplanar with the door edge, a tubular support element, integral with and projecting from the back side of said mounting plate and providing an open-ended bore with its axis extending normal to said front surface, said mounting plate having a recess in said front surface, said bore opening into said recess centrally thereof for receiving said front plate therein with said barrel received in said bore and said front plate generally coplanar with said front surface, means for securing said front plate to said mounting plate, and means for securing said mounting plate in said second mortise.

4. An adapter for facilitating mounting a latch unit in a door having in the edge thereof a first, relatively deep rectangular mortise and a second, relatively shallow mortise extending outwardly from said first mortise, wherein said latch unit includes a tubular barrel having a front plate on one end, said adapter comprising: an elongated mounting plate adapted to be secured in said second mortise with its front surface generally coplanar with the door edge, a tubular support element integral with and projecting from the back side of said mounting plate and providing an open-ended bore with its axis extending normal to said front surface, said mounting plate having a recess in said front surface, said bore opening into said recess centrally thereof for receiving said front plate therein with said barrel received in said bore and said front plate generally coplanar with said front surface, means for securing said front plate to said mounting plate, means for securing said mounting plate in said second mortise, and a relatively thin face plate having slightly larger outline dimensions than said front surface of said mounting plate and adapted to be disposed in overlying relation to said mounting plate including said recess with the marginal portions of said face plate extending outwardly of said second mortise, said securing means including threaded screws extending through said face plate and said mounting plate.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,327,695 Blye Jan. 13, 1920 1,518,395 Dexter Dec. 9, 1924 2,785,565 Schlage Mar. 19, 1957 

